[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 42 (Thursday, April 6, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E514-E515]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NURSING RESEARCH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LOIS CAPPS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 6, 2000

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I stand today as a former nurse and strong 
supporter of the National Institute of Nursing Research, to draw your 
attention to the tremendous challenges faced by women suffering from 
chronic health conditions that affect their productivity and quality of 
life. I urge my colleagues to join me in making the advancement of 
women's health a national priority.
  Because of my nursing background, I know first-hand that it is 
imperative to assure access to quality healthcare. And as a woman, I 
know that we have special health needs. Studies show that women suffer 
from a variety of ailments such as heart disease, breast cancer,

[[Page E515]]

and depression at alarming rates. Women experience more chronic illness 
and are prescribed more medications by their physicians than men. 
Depression, for example, most often strikes women between the ages of 
25 and 44. Because of the devastating impact of depression on women 
during these prime productive years, depression now ranks as the number 
one cause of disability in women.
  I was proud to co-sponsor a recent congressional briefing with the 
Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research entitled, 
``Reaching Gender Equity in the 21st Century: A Renewed Focus on 
Women's Health.'' The briefing featured nurse researchers who presented 
compelling data on different chronic, debilitating conditions that 
affect women three times more often than men.
  The National Institute for Nursing Research (NINR) appreciates the 
affects of chronic diseases on a woman's productivity and has merely 
touched the tip of the iceberg relative to women's health needs and 
concerns. I am proud to be a member of the nursing community and 
support the continued work at the NINR. I am circulating a letter to 
the Appropriations Committee, calling for a significant increase in 
funding for NINR. NINR is currently undertaking important research to 
help Americans most efficiently manage their health care problems, so 
that they will not have to seek hospital care. The purpose of NINR is 
to support and conduct research and research training to reduce the 
burden of illness and disability, to improve health-related quality of 
life, and to promote health and prevent disease, including research on 
the best methods to help people choose health-promoting behaviors and 
lifestyles. Research programs supported by the NINR address a number of 
critical public health and patient care questions, including women's 
health issues.
  Here in Congress, we need to support efforts to empower more women to 
understand and effectively manage chronic illnesses and live more 
productive and happier lives. We also need to reaffirm our commitment 
to advancing the understanding of women's health in this country and to 
assure that scientific knowledge is quickly put into medical practice. 
I am proud to support NINR and its research, and to have co-sponsored 
their recent event focusing on women's health. We have made major 
accomplishments in this area, but we in Congress must keep supporting 
these efforts. There is still so much to be done.

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